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City Cast Denver

The latest on the hottest places to eat, drink, socialize, and talk about in Denver.

Peyton Garcia

Get ready pizza-lovers: This fall, Longmont will host the first-ever 

The inaugural event will spotlight pizzerias from across the state while raising funds for local hunger relief organizations. Scheduled for 

, a new nonprofit founded by three of Longmont’s most popular parlors: 

While the event — which promises to feature 

live music, family-friendly festivities, and a Pizza Olympics

 — will be the organization’s annual signature event, Pizza With Purpose also plans to host a variety of philanthropic endeavors throughout the year, an idea first sparked by the recent 

 for families facing food insecurity here and across the nation.

The nonprofit’s pizza philanthropy will kick off with 

 next month, when all three founding restaurants will donate $1 from every pepperoni or cheese pizza sold to 

 (the O.G. national pizza-loving nonprofit combating food insecurity one slice of pie at a time) from 

Tickets for the Colorado Pizza Festival go on sale May 1. Follow 

Colorado Pizza Festival

Which pizzerias do you think should get the invite? 🍕

First-Ever Colorado Pizza Festival Comes to Longmont This Fall

The latest on the best and newest restaurants and bars in Denver. We'll help you find where to eat, drink, and socialize.

Denver Food & Drink

Food & Drink

 on this year’s list of James Beard Award semifinalists — more than each of the last two years — and 14 of which are based in the Denver metro.

The list mostly comprises the usual suspects, with star-studded restaurants you may recognize from their growing collection of national accolades — like Alma Fonda Fina, MAKFam, Yuan Wonton, The Wolf’s Tailor, and Restaurant Olivia. But there are a few refreshing surprises, including 

, a longtime LoHi favorite cocktail bar, 

, a plant-based restaurant in Edgewater, and Chef Miles Odell, the man behind the fancy bagels (and exclusive evenings-only chef’s counter) at 

Finalists will be named on Tuesday, March 31. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Chicago on Monday, June 15.

Here are all of Colorado’s semifinalists:

Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service

Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service

James Beard Awards

Who’d they miss? 🧑‍🍳

Colorado nabbed 17 spots across 11 categories on this year’s list of James Beard Award semifinalists, 14 of which are based in the Denver metro. 

Denver’s 2026 James Beard Award Semifinalists

The Denver dining scene can sometimes feel like a revolving door with new restaurants/bars coming and going before you even have a chance to Google their menu. It can be dizzying to keep up with, and we don’t want you to miss a single meal. Here are just some of the newest openings we're excited about — and a few of the latest closures we're mourning (RIP) 👇

Judging by the viral attention this new Uptown noodle house is gaining on social media, the hand-pulled pasta strands on offer here are exactly what the restaurant’s name implies — 

 is a scrumptious byproduct of two other Denver dining faves — Dio Mio and Redeemer Pizza. The menu boasts pizzas, pastas, and other Italian-inspired surprises. (Can you say 

“No-frills cocktails, $4 beer in frosty mugs, and free bar snacks” is 

 at this new Saloon-style whiskey bar on Tennyson. Not only a Western-inspired watering hole, American Lore will double as a retail shop featuring hats and hat-molding services from the popular local Hats by Parker Thomas.

Adventure Time Bar is exactly what it sounds like: Part bar, part adventure! It will feature new themes on a rotating basis. Guests will purchase tickets for a 90-minute visit that includes a welcome cocktail, a souvenir, and an entirely unique immersive experience. The debut theme is a “futuristic cyberpunk world” inspired by the likes of “Blade Runner” and “The Matrix.”

The “haunted spirit house” in the old Blake Street Vault building has run its course (and its lease). It will be closing for good this Friday. The bar’s popular second-floor sibling concept, the gay tiki bar Hell or High Water, will also leave the space, but 

 at 3542 Walnut Street, next door to Tracks in RiNo. Owner Lexi Healy promises the future incarnation will be “Still unholy. Still phallic. Still filthy as ever.”

The small town of Hudson (~30 minutes northeast of Denver proper) is bidding goodbye to 

 in 1913. “This decision did not come easily,” owners wrote in a Facebook post announcing the closure, citing health concerns within the family that has operated the restaurant for nearly half a century.

Celebrated as a gathering space for women and the LGBTQ community, this 10-year-old taproom will pour its final beers at the end of this month as the building’s owners 

. But this isn’t the end of Goldspot, which will continue distributing beers and hosting events as it decides “what comes next.”

 — a local cult-favorite — promises to be “stupid good,” with off-the-wall takes on pasta, like a Red Chili and Butternut Squash Risotto or a Smoked Duck and Green Chili Lumache.

Chinese dim sum and noodle dishes are the star of the show at this new neighborhood joint off East Colfax Ave. The spot is co-owned by Xi Yong Zheng who also operates Okinawa Japanese next door, a 15-year-old Colfax fave. 

 the twice-cooked pork stir-fried noodles and the Singapore butter prawns are both solid orders 👌

A delicious Greenwood Village secret is out of the bag — and opening a brand new location on South Broadway. With perfectly glazed donuts and generously loaded breakfast burritos, Anna’s hits all your sweet 

This new Platte Street noodle house is the fast-casual venture from popular local favorite Daughter Thai Kitchen & Bar located right next door. Decorated with family portraits and tokens from Thailand, the space evokes cozy nostalgia vibes, complemented by Thai comfort food.

Following a two-year hiatus, Sắp Sửa’s ultra-popular Saturday morning bakery is back and bringing in the crowds. Owner Anna Nguyen originally opened the bakery in 2023 following the restaurant’s debut, but she put the project on pause to focus on Sắp Sửa’s rising claim to fame. Now, with new pastry chef Korinna Mahan onboard, Denverites can once again get their fix of creative baked goods, including the likes of dirty chai sticky buns, banana coconut rum cakes, and sesame chocolate babka 🤤

Denver’s favorite vendor of exotic sausages is back … again! (

.) “Biker Jim” Pittenger is taking his famed jalapeño elk dogs and unique brunch bites to Avanti Food & Beverage. “Jim’s food has always embodied the creative, independent spirit of Denver dining, and we couldn’t be more excited to give him a platform for his next chapter,” said Avanti’s director of operations.

 | 1437 California St. (Central Business District)

This family operation comes to Denver from the Bay Area. With more than two decades of taqueria success along the coast of California, Tia’s is bringing 

vibes to a retrofitted former laundromat with deliciously simple tacos, burritos, and bean and rice platters — and a big screen TV.

 to the historic Tivoli building on Auraria Campus after Tivoli Brewing Co. moved out last December. Though it will no longer house a brewery, the menu will offer pub fare and a rotating tap list. Auraria officials are calling it the “kickoff to … a larger transformation on campus.”

Here are just some of the newest openings we're excited about — and a few of the latest closures we're mourning (RIP).

The Latest Denver Restaurant and Bar Openings and Closings

Denver's Latest Restaurant/Bar Openings and Closings

City Cast Denver staff

We’ve got a sweet treat for you — the City Cast Denver team is looking back at our favorite food and drinks from 2025, and letting you in on where to find them. Cheers! 🥂

Hey Denver newsletter Editor Peyton Garcia here, ready to put an end to the “best ramen” debate. It’s not Uncle, it’s not Osaka — surprise! — it’s not even a popular ramen spot in Denver. It’s in Arvada.

“I slurped my way through some of the most popular ramen joints in the city this year. Then I circled back to my O.G. order — the Tonkostu bowl at 303 Ramen — and it still stood out as the best by a longshot. The broth is perfectly rich and savory, the noodles are just the right amount of chewy and slurpable. The chashu pork is mouthwateringly tender. It’s chef’s kiss.”

Sắp Sửa’s food menu has earned it’s fair share of fame, but Senior Account Executive Maggie Azzolini says don’t sleep on the cocktail menu — she suggests starting with the Tiger’s Milk.

“It’s a variation on a martini with gin, orange, dill, onion, and chili. When I saw it on the menu, I was intrigued because drinks like that can really skew delicious or disgusting … but it was delicious! My husband and I shared one and then had to order a second because it was so good!”

Host Bree Davies says Que Rico!’s version of this chilly classic is sweet, sour, spicy 

“The mangonada is layers of flavor and texture — crunchy ice doused in mango syrup, a tornado of tajín, chamoy, and chili spice, the whimsical chewiness of salsaghetti gummy candy, and of course, the unmistakable tang of fresh mango chunks make this a full-on dessert in a cup.”

Executive Producer Paul Karolyi can’t get enough from award-winning Chef Jose Avila. His favorite bite of 2025 comes from the dessert menu at Malinche Audiobar.

“I’ll be honest, I typically don’t like dessert. But I tried this one, and I was happy about it. The base of this thing is like a sweetened corn pudding, and it's served with a yuzu-piloncillo glaze and pearls of pear and salmon roe. It's surprising and fun, with so many contrasts of taste and texture.”

 savory lovers out there, Producer Olivia Jewell Love says you can’t miss the strawberry-olive margarita at Englewood’s Fellow Traveler.

“It combined two of my favorite things both for their aesthetics and taste — olives and strawberries — to make a lightly fruity margarita with that salt rim kick infused into the drink.”

Producer Lizzie Goldsmith’s best bite comes in the form of something deliciously reliable. She says the El Chilango from Park Burger never fails to hit.

“I’m not the biggest burger person, but I just love Park Burger’s El Chilango. It checks all the boxes for me, and that jalapeño gives it just the right amount of kick.”

Producer Adrian González is a sucker for an expertly executed classic, which is why he recommends the namesake martini from Corsica.

“The martini is an iconic, yet simple cocktail, which means its quality really comes down to the ingredients. And the folks at Corsica nailed it. The main star is the Colorado-made Juniper Jones gin, brought together with dry vermouth, guindilla, citrus peels, and perhaps the unsung hero: an anchovy olive. If you love anchovies like I do, this might be your new favorite drink.”

Best Bites

What was YOUR favorite bite? 📧

The City Cast Denver team is looking back at our favorite food and drinks from 2025, and letting you in on where to find them. 

Denver's Best Food and Drink of 2025

The Best Things We Ate and Drank in 2025

Paul Karolyi

For many Denver families, tamales are a beloved holiday tradition. Whether you make them yourselves or get them from one of the many 

local restaurants that sells them in bulk

, there’s nothing quite like a tamale at Christmas time. But what’s the best filling? In this special essay, City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi shares his answer.

In the spirit of the holidays, I come to you now with a modest proposal — one with the potential to bring a family closer together or drive it apart. It’s an idea freighted with contested histories, fraught with big feelings, and fit to bursting with saturated fats.

But I have to tell you the backstory first.

A few years ago, my wife Megan made tamales with a friend because she had never done it before and wanted to try. She grew up in a half white, half Chicano family in northern Colorado and never learned how. As an adult, she has enjoyed deepening her connection to Mexican cuisine. So, the next year she thought, what if the whole Chicano side of the family got together in December to roll a big batch together? We could all reconnect over huge bowls of masa and spend an afternoon together spreading, filling, folding, and catching up on the year that was.

It went great. Everyone loved it, and we’ve been doing it every year in early December. It’s a really nice holiday tradition.

We’re getting pretty good, too. That first year’s batch had a lot of misshapen, under-filled knobby little logs of masa and meat. Now we’re really cooking. At this year’s gathering earlier this month, I think we rolled up over 200 beautiful little ingot-shaped morsels.

Slow-cooked pork is a traditional and reliably delicious filling. Chicken, I personally find hit-or-miss (it tends to dry out). Shockingly, a perennial favorite has become the jalapeño popper — a friend brought this to us a couple years ago. You buy a big can of pickled jalapeños, pop the tops off, scoop out the guts, then fill them with cream cheese and shredded cheddar before rolling them up in the masa-caked 

. They can be a little spicy and a little lumpy, but I love them.

So that brings me to this past November. Megan had started a group chat to organize everyone’s schedule, and I was sitting there thinking, 

 What other flavor combinations would taste nice with masa?

A corn dog is kinda like a tamale, if you squint. What if you cooked up a hot dog and rolled it up inside?

That was the response in the family chat when I threw this idea out there. It wasn’t unanimous, but that was definitely the majority sentiment — even from Megan!

But Megan’s aunt Robin, a bonafide northern Colorado 

 “Putting hot dogs in a burrito or a taco is a thing … a real Mexican thing,”

 she wrote. “And I think it’s something we need to try.”

I wrestled with the execution for weeks. Should it be just a plain hot dog in there with masa? Or maybe it’d be nice with sauerkraut and brown mustard? Corn dogs are good with bright yellow mustard and maybe relish, but that didn’t seem quite right.

Ultimately, I settled on a Southwestern take on a classic topping combo, playing to the family’s roots in northern New Mexico, and it was a hit!

 delicious cheesy, spicy, fatty rich goodness

. “They were so good!” Megan’s cousin Emily texted me when I told them all I was going to share this idea with the world. “Sort of like a homemade chile corn dog.”

My hot dog tamales didn’t win over everyone (and some even refused to try it), but I won some converts. Even Megan turned around on the idea, and we’re plotting tweaks to the recipe for next year together.

TL;DR: Here’s the recipe for the Chile Cheese Tamale Dog:

, cross-hatched and roasted in the oven for a little bit of char. Each tamale gets one full frank. Add 

. Wrap and steam like you would any other tamale, then enjoy!

My only regret is not making more. The only one that survived long enough for me to snap a pic didn’t quite stick together, so maybe upping the masa ratio would be appropriate. The flavors of the fillings were big enough that they could stand up to it, for sure.

“Low key,” Robin texted me when I asked her a couple more questions. “We should make chile dog tamales for New Years!”

So I want to hear from you! Have you ever had a tamale with a hot dog in it? Would you try it? What other fillings would you add?

Tamale tips

Here’s how I’d do it… 🫔

It’s an idea freighted with contested histories, fraught with big feelings, and fit to bursting with saturated fats.

A Modest Proposal: The Hot Dog Tamale

of the kitchen this Thanksgiving, there are plenty of local chefs and restaurants willing to do the work for you. We’ve rounded up 12 local places offering Thanksgiving dinner to-go — from single-serving traditional turkey meals to vegan/vegetarian options and splurge-worthy feasts fit for a king — so you can enjoy your holiday without all the fuss.

Roasted turkey breast, cornbread dressing, old fashioned turkey gravy, whole cranberry sauce, white cheddar mashed potatoes, haricot vert, and pumpkin pie

In advance for pickup on Thanksgiving (10:30 a.m.-3 p.m.)

Applewood smoked turkey breast, mashed potatoes and chicken gravy, stuffing, green bean casserole, and cranberry sauce, plus optional dessert add-ons

Your choice of herb-roasted boneless turkey or brown sugar glazed ham, plus your choice of two sides, two sauces, one salad, one dessert, and house rolls

Take n’ bake lasagna (small, large, or gluten-free), plus optional dessert and wine add-ons

Nov. 22 for pickup Nov. 25-26 (noon-4 p.m.)

Peking duck with mushu scallion pancakes and char sui, plus pan-seared shrimp scampi dumplings, spicy mushroom ramen, and matcha tiramisu

Your choice of smoked turkey breast, brisket, or ribs, plus garlic mashed potatoes with brisket gravy, green bean casserole, jalapeño bacon mac and cheese, and rolls

Any time before Nov. 27, or on Thanksgiving day between 10 a.m.-noon

Harvest wellington, spiced cranberry sauce, garlic mashed potatoes with thyme gravy, citrus-glazed carrots, green bean almondine, baked mac and cheese, and onion stuffing, plus optional dessert add-ons

For pickup Nov. 20-26 with at least 72 hours advanced notice

Your choice of maitake non-ossobuco or stuffed shells, plus carrot and kabocha bisque, garlic whipped yukon gold potatoes and porcini gravy, chestnut and sage sourdough stuffing, roasted brussels caesar salad, and a chocolate budino

Nov. 24 for pickup Nov. 25-26 (noon-5 p.m.)

Mushroom wellington, roasted turnip and garlic mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, glazed squash, whipped sweet potatoes, cranberry relish, vegan/GF dinner rolls, and vegan/GF pumpkin pie

Nov. 23 for pickup (or delivery!) Nov. 25-26

Sliced turkey with garlic and thyme gravy, housemade stuffing, black truffle whipped potatoes, roasted bacon and brussels, lobster mac and cheese, dinner rolls, and pumpkin sage tart with cranberry caramel and cinnamon chantilly

Sous vide turkey breast and leg, turkey leg stuffing, whipped potatoes, green bean casserole, potato rolls, turkey gravy, and cranberry orange sauce, plus optional dessert add-ons

$225 (without the bird), $395 (with the bird)

 Rosemary and sage whole roasted turkey and gravy, mushroom and sweet Italian sausage sourdough stuffing, shallot mashed potatoes, bourbon mashed sweet potatoes, maple and lime roasted acorn squash, cranberry-orange-lime-jalapeño relish, plus optional dessert add-ons

Thanksgiving To-Go Denver 2025

Where to Order Your Turkey Dinner To-Go

, many Denver families may be worrying about how or 

they can pull a holiday meal together this Thanksgiving. Many of the well-known local holiday meal giveaways — including the Daddy Bruce 

 — are already maxed out, so we’ve rounded up a few more food assistance options that still have available capacity for you or anyone you know who might need a hand in the kitchen.

Almost Home Housing Thanksgiving Meal Basket

A basket of non-perishable Thanksgiving food items, plus a King Soopers gift card to purchase a turkey.

Reserved baskets will be available for pick-up at the Columbian Home Event Center in Brighton on Saturday, Nov. 22, from 9-11 a.m.

A grocery box of fresh seasonal produce and shelf stable pantry items.

A drive-thru distribution will take place at Arapahoe Community College in Littleton on Saturday, Nov. 22, beginning at 11 a.m. while supplies last.

No advanced registration or reservation is required. Boxes will be available to roughly 500 households on a first-come, first-served basis until supplies run out.

Brother Jeff Thanksgiving Meal Distribution

Warm holiday meals — for one or for many — available for pick-up, delivery, or dine-in to anyone who needs it.

Meals will be served from noon-3 p.m. on Thanksgiving, Nov. 27, at the Brother Jeff Cultural Center.

Reserve your meal before Tuesday, Nov. 25.

SAME Café is hosting a pay-what-you-can Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixings open to anyone.

Wednesday, Nov. 26, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at SAME Café (2023 E Colfax Ave.).

Find more free food access programs

Because every Denverite deserves a Thanksgiving feast. 

Denver Organizations Offering Free Holiday Meals This Thanksgiving

Trust us, it is definitely not too early to order your holiday pies — at least, if you want a really good one. And Denver has 

 of options for really good pies. Based on our highly unscientific (but very 

 enthusiastic) research, these are Denver’s top spots to order your sweet treats this holiday season.

Locations: 4000 Tennyson St. (Berkeley), 300 E Alameda Ave. (Wash Park West)

Formerly known as The Colorado Cherry Company, this family-owned pie shop’s decadent recipes date all the way back to Great Grandma Katherine’s first roadside stand in 1929. They’ve been perfecting their cherry pie for nearly a century!

Now taking pre-orders for Thanksgiving. Monthly specials for November include pumpkin and maple honey pecan.

✔️ Limited gluten-free options available.

Location: Denver Commissary, 3600 E 40th Ave. (Clayton)

For chef and owner John Hinman, “it’s not about the pie, it’s about the stories the pie creates.” For pie-hungry local Reddit users, it’s all about Hinman’s famously flaky crust. From hand pies to whole pies, Hinman tops the charts as one of Denver’s most popular pie purveyors.

Thanksgiving pre-orders can be placed now for pick-up on Tuesday, Nov. 25, or Wednesday, Nov. 26, at Leevers Locavore (2630 W 38th Ave). Seasonal flavors include pumpkin, salted maple, and pecan.

Location: 3333 S. Wadsworth Blvd. (Lakewood)

Vast variety is the name of the game here, with more than two dozen options available on any given day, ranging from classic fruit pies to sinisterly sweet cream pies, and a variety of unique flavors in between, like blueberry cheese pie, rocky road cream pie, and peanut butter pie with an Oreo crust. Granny’s gives homemade.

Thanksgiving pre-orders must be placed by noon on Nov. 21. (Or by noon on Nov. 19 if for gluten-free or other special dietary orders.) November specials include pumpkin cheesecake and turtle pie.

✔️ Will make gluten-free pies on request.

Location: Delivery/pick-up around the city

Owner and award-winning pastry chef Martin Howard’s pies are good — the online reviews can prove it. But Howard’s signature deliveries dressed in drag as Chocolatina Q Dessert are the figurative cherry on top. Flavors rotate weekly, but are always, “Fresh. Flaky. Fabulous.”

For Thanksgiving, The Pie Queen is offering a variety of pie package options — including flavors like pumpkin, pecan, and sour cream apple — available for pick-up on Wednesday, Nov. 26. Place your order by 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 23.

Food & Drink

First-Ever Colorado Pizza Festival Comes to Longmont This Fall

Denver’s 2026 James Beard Award Semifinalists

Denver's Latest Restaurant/Bar Openings and Closings

Latest articles

The Best Things We Ate and Drank in 2025

A Modest Proposal: The Hot Dog Tamale

Where to Order Your Turkey Dinner To-Go

Denver Organizations Offering Free Holiday Meals This Thanksgiving

The Best Places to Order Your Holiday Pie

How to Support Local Food Assistance Programs

Secret Garden Bar & Café Shutters Abruptly Ahead of Union Negotiations